Man Convicted of Kidnapping Seaford Elder Federally Sentenced to 45 Years
SEAFORD, Del. – A man convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting an 80-year-old woman in Seaford has been federally sentenced to an additional 45 years in prison.
On Thursday, the Delaware Department of Justice announced the sentencing of 26-year-old Ralph Harmon of Seaford for federal charges of kidnapping, carjacking, and cyberstalking. Harmon had been previously sentenced in the state of Maryland to life in prison plus 60 years in Feb. 2024. In Apr. 2024, he was transferred to the District of Delaware for federal proceedings after being convicted in Maryland on charges including attempted first and second degree murder, first and second degree rape, and a litany related offenses.
“This was a senseless, random, vicious attack on an elderly victim of our Delaware community,” said U.S. Attorney Benjamin L. Wallace. “The Court’s sentence delivers justice and closure for the victim by holding the defendant accountable for all aspects of this violent criminal act; ensuring that he is not a threat to the community for the foreseeable future; and sending a message to any others who might terrorize our community that they will be held responsible by my office and our dedicated law-enforcement partners.”
According to court documents and evidence presented at sentencing, Harmon approached an 80-year-old woman outside her residence in Seaford on Jan. 13, 2023. He brandished what appeared to be a firearm, placed his arm on the victim, and forced her into her vehicle. Once inside, the victim tried to escape out the passenger door, but Harmon pistol-whipped her, forcing her to remain inside the car. Harmon then left the victim’s residence and drove towards Laurel, where he stopped along the way and forced the victim to give him her ATM information.
Harmon then crossed state lines into Maryland, pulled over, and sexually assaulted the victim. After, Harmon forced the elderly woman to lay face down in the front passenger seat, where Harmon tied the victim’s hands with a shoelace before continuing to drive. Harmon took the victim to a residential neighborhood where he forced her to a dock in the backyard. Harmon then shoved the victim, still bound, into the Wicomico River. When the victim surfaced, Harmon pistol-whipped the victim a second time with what Harmon later stated was an intent to kill the victim. After Harmon fled the area in the elderly victim’s car, she climbed out of the river and received assistance from bystanders.
Harmon met with friends and continued to make cash withdraws and utilize the victim’s ATM cards at local shops. Harmon and his friends then went to a tattoo parlor in Salisbury, where law enforcement identified the victim’s vehicle. Harmon fled from police, and a black BB gun was recovered during his arrest.
Additionally, while pending trial in the state of Maryland, Harmon utilized a recorded jail phone to attempt to have an associate kill the victim to prevent her from testifying at the state trial. Harmon also contacted the victim numerous times, including eight times around 1:00 a.m. in a single night. The victim ultimately left her residence out of fear ahead of testifying.
“The victim in this case was a long-term resident of the City of Seaford, who showed tremendous strength and courage throughout the ordeal and prosecution,” said Deputy Chief Tyler Justice, Seaford Police Department. “We are proud of the work done by our detectives and our local, state, and federal partners. The result is justice being served to someone who committed such a needless act of violence to a member of our community.”
NOTE: WMDT’s previous reporting has identified Harmon as being a Salisbury resident, but new documentation from the District of Delaware identifies him as a resident of Seaford, as reflected in this article.
